Ukraine's energy sector is subjected to continuous missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks by the russian federation. As a result of massive combined attacks, power lines that connect Ukrainian nuclear power plants to the grid are periodically damaged, which is crucial for their safe operation. This was stated by Head of SNRIU - Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine Oleh Korikov at the 55th plenary meeting of the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) on 28 November 2024.
‘Missile and combined attacks of the russian side on the critical energy infrastructure of Ukraine are not only terror against civilians, but also a threat to nuclear safety of operating nuclear facilities. On both 17 November and 28 November 2024, russia continued targeted attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, resulting in damage to power lines and substations. I would like to emphasise that these deliberate acts of nuclear terror were committed less than a month after after the IAEA Expert Mission to Electrical Substations in Ukraine, which took place on 21-26 October 2024’, SNRIU Chairman stressed.
He reminded that reliable and stable power supply to NPPs was highlighted by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi at a special meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors on 2 March 2022 as one of the seven pillars of nuclear safety and security (Pillar 4).
‘I believe that this issue of paramount importance requires close and constant attention from the IAEA, and the damaged substations should be subject to urgent monitoring and assessment by the Agency's experts. I look forward to further monitoring and supervision by the IAEA of nuclear and nuclear safety critical facilities to ensure nuclear safety and security, reduce the risk of a nuclear incident or accident, in accordance with the IAEA safety standards, safety guidelines and best practices,’ said Oleh Korikov.
Informing international partners about the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP occupied by russia, the head of the Ukrainian nuclear regulator said: ‘I am forced to state that the situation (with nuclear safety and secrity at ZNPP - ed.) cannot become better under military occupation, deployment of military equipment, personnel and ammunition on the site, use of the NPP industrial site and adjacent territory as a firing point for artillery and rocket launchers, missile shells. russia is responsible for all the damage done to ZNPP, as well as for the fact that ZNPP has become a risk and a threat to the entire civilised world.’
Ensuring nuclear safety and security at ZNPP is possible only after complete and final demilitarisation of the ZNPP site - withdrawal of all armed forces and military equipment not related to security and physical protection systems; withdrawal of russian troops from the territories around the ZNPP site and stopping shelling of civilians; return of ZNPP under the control of the Ukrainian legal operator and restoration of state regulation of nuclear safety by the only legal regulator - SNRIU.
During the ENSREG meeting, the delegates of the participating countries also discussed preparations for the Eighth Meeting of the Parties to the Joint Convention on the
Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management.